Media

Washington, DC - Congressman Jim Baird (R-IN) spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on the challenges facing the communities surrounding Lake Freeman & Shafer.

“At the hands of mother nature and outside forces, these crown jewels of the region have been tarnished. On multiple occasions, Lake Freeman, because of drought conditions, has been caused to drain down to the barren riverbed that flows at its bottom,” Congressman Jim Baird said. “These droughts cause the lake to be almost completely drained, and result in devastation to the natural ecology, and the local economy. Businesses, homes, property, both real and personal, tax revenue, and the lost family time are all impacted.”

The water levels of the lakes have been dangerously low several time in the past years, causing harm to the local economy and ecology. The low water levels were brought on by drought but exacerbated by a 2014 U.S. Fish and Wildlife ruling that required NIPSCO to release water from the Oakdale dam to protect a species of mussels.

Watch Congressman Baird’s full speech below: